ᐅ House with a basement or without?

Initially, we planned without a basement due to cost considerations. Above-ground rooms are generally more appealing than underground ones. However, the plot ended up being smaller, and we need to build with a flat roof, so storing space under the roof is not an option. Basement replacement rooms usually spoil the floor plans in my opinion, so I now find it a relief not to have to include them above ground.

We are placing two offices downstairs with the necessary excavation. The additional cost compared to planning without a basement is therefore (probably) manageable, and in return, we gain about 45 sqm (484 sq ft) of extra usable space alongside the spacious offices.

A basement is more of an individual decision. If I only needed it for storage space and had a pitched roof, I would rather do without it.
Where I disagree is the possibility of replacement rooms outside the house; in my opinion, this is just a patchwork solution to a situation that could be avoided through proper planning (and possibly basement construction).

@ypg you described and explained it exactly the way I would have

Anyone who doesn’t need several square meters (square feet) for their hobby or doesn’t have to place living spaces in the basement due to space constraints (sloping lot, etc.) can probably do well without a basement, provided there is enough basement replacement area and discipline when disposing of things

For 1000m2 (approximately 10,760 square feet) and larger, a building without a basement may make sense, but in my opinion, anything smaller than that is too small to still have a nice, large garden...

I am also an advocate for having a basement. It’s more convenient to go downstairs to get Christmas decorations, and the basement provides good space for the fitness room and building services. However, if I were to build a new house, I would probably skip it due to the high costs involved.

That's exactly the point—you have to assess the cost-benefit ratio for yourself. I'm not a fan of having a large garden (just more work), and I’m not very keen on decorations either (they need dusting, get in the way, take up space, cats knock them down, and so on). I have a moving box with seasonal decorations—that’s enough for me.

We built with a basement and would not want to do without it.
The heating room, server room, storage room (which also keeps the drinks stored there nicely cool in summer), and hobby room are easily accommodated there.
In our region, building without a basement is almost unthinkable and would also reduce the resale value.
However, this varies from region to region, and whether to build with or without a basement is definitely a matter of preference.